Vladimir Putin says western assurances Ukraine will not join Nato soon are not good enough as German Chancellor welcomes pull back of some troops

• Boris Johnson says Russia is sending ‘mixed signals’ on Ukraine
• Russia says it will withdraw some of its troops from Ukraine border
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• Video: What exactly does Putin want in Ukraine?
• Full coverage of the situation in Ukraine

Australia’s prime minister has urged China to denounce Russian threats against Ukraine.

Scott Morrison noted that Beijing and Moscow had announced they were pursuing closer relations since more than 100,000 Russian troops were sent to the Ukrainian border.

We would expect all nations, all governments around the world, to be denouncing what is taking place with the threats of violence against Ukraine.

I do note that the Chinese government, together with the Russian government, have been banding together on this issue and that the Chinese government has not denounced what is occurring in Ukraine.”

In January-February, the entire Russian Navy fleet announced that it would conduct military exercises in the waters around the base, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.

It is thought that the intention is to show off the ability to operate in the east and west in response to the recent movement of the Russian army around Ukraine.”